Boris threatens to abandon post-Brexit agreement

On the eve of the last and most crucial round of trade negotiations, which started in London on Tuesday, the UK caused a threefold shock to the negotiating process, which stalled due to differences in fishing, state aid and EU demands for a level playing field.

Boris Johnson was warned that he risks "enormous damage" to Britain's national interests and its position on the world stage while Brussels reacted with alarm to his threats to abandon the EU trade negotiations and tear up important parts of his Brexit withdrawal agreement.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that full implementation of the agreement Johnson signed last year was a legal obligation and a condition for any future trade agreement with the EU, while the anti-Brexit parties in Northern Ireland issued a joint statement warning that withdrawal from the agreement would undermine the peace process.